Theme for the gathering

The four archetypes: The King, Warrior, Lover, and Magician are the road maps to healthy, mature masculinity. This spring the theme of the CT men’s gathering is focusing on the Warrior Archetype.

The Warrior is the servant of the King archetype and follows the King’s instructions. The King sets the boundaries that the Warrior must defend whether they are internal or external. When we call upon this Warrior energy, we draw on the enormous resources of focus and self-discipline. We are objective and unemotional so that we can look at this task dispassionately to see clearly what needs to be done and how to do it. The Warrior thus acts without regard to personal feelings and from this place where we will act more forcefully, swiftly, efficiently and without ego in the way. It is this very energy, that is revealed when we set a healthy boundary, risking; rejection or conflict by speaking up for or taking a stand for the voiceless. The Warrior shows up! Where are you showing up in your life and where do you play small or hide-out; thus betraying yourself and the values of your inner King?

The Warrior learns to come into fullness from self-discipline, sense of duty, and objectivity that makes them fearless in battle for their personal boundaries and for the people , both internally and externally. The Warrior learns skills by developing awareness, discernment and strengthening the ability to focus on the task at hand. The Warrior’s internal quest is to find the source of their power. This energy brings the Warrior to action with dignity, honor and commitment. Michelangelo would never have completed the Sistine Chapel without Warrior energy! Without the training in the ordinary tasks of living, a novitiate will never be able to access the full power and discipline of the Warrior when the King says “It is time to act!”

As with all the archetypes, without guidance, training and devotion the Warrior archetype can be activated in its shadow aspects. The Shadow Warrior simply has never matured as a person, thus carries into their adult body, adolescent insecurity, violent emotionalism and desperation to be seen. The uninitiated novitiate can fall easily into rages and bullying ( The High Chair Tyrant) when the emotions overwhelm them and then with detachment, crosses the line into the cruelty of the sadist. Another shadow aspect is the coward, the inability to answer the call of the king.

However, in our modern world, a young person may choose unconsciously to simply deny their Warrior archetype. The nightly news and movies are filled with stories about men acting out of the shadow aspects of the Warrior: Not good role modeling. This has lead to deep confusion about what it means to be a whole person today. In this absence of vibrant meaningful Warrior role models the young person’s desire to be trained as a Warrior is absent. It is only when the mature King Archetype wakes up and says to the Magician “train this novitiate to be my Warrior” that this person has a chance to claim the Warrior Archetype.